NSW powerless to stop energy crisis

NSW is relying on cheap coal-fired power from Queensland to keep the lights on and stop an even greater surge in prices.

Power imported to NSW from Queensland has grown by more than 50 per cent in the past year, figures from the Australian Energy Market ­Operator show.

The news comes after a ­report released yesterday urged for investment to keep the nation's existing coal-fired stations running as long as possible which will embolden Coalition MPs pushing for government investment in new coal generators.

News Corp Australia can also reveal Energy Minister Josh Frydenberg will take the report, which also includes a multi-billion dollar plan to turn NSW into a renewables wonderland, to a critical national meeting in three weeks.

Energy Minister Josh Frydenberg will take the report to a critical national meeting in three weeks. Picture: AAP

Chair of the coalition backbench energy committee, Liberal MP Craig Kelly, said NSW was at risk of running out of power without coal-fired power from Queensland.

"It's an appalling state of ­affairs that we now have to rely on Queensland to make sure we can keep the lights on," he said.

"It shows how we simply don't have enough baseload power in NSW at the moment and it shows why the urgency that we make a decision to keep Liddell coal-fired power station open. When it closes, we simply will not have enough electricity to keep the market supplied."